
API® 2500 Bus Compressor
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An obsessively accurate emulation of API’s flagship compressor.
The API 2500 Bus Compressor is a permanent fixture on the stereo bus of many of the world's top engineers and producers. Considered the best of the Paul Wolff-era API circuit designs, this famed compressor adds energy, movement, and tone to stereo mixes and subgroups unlike any other compressor.
The API 2500 Bus Compressor plug-in for UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces is a spot-on emulation of this classic compressor, capturing its all-discrete signal path with Thrust® circuitry — and features a fanatically detailed modeling of API's custom transformers and 2510 and 2520 op amps.Versions incluses
UAD Native
Fonctionne sur votre Mac ou PC sans le matériel d’UA.Apollo Realtime & UAD-2
Fonctionne en mode accéléré sur les interfaces Apollo et les systèmes UAD-2.Configuration système requise : les plug-ins UAD natifs fonctionnent sur macOS 10.15 Catalina ou une version ultérieure, ainsi que sur Windows 10 et 11. Consultez notre page d’aide dédiée pour connaître la configuration système requise.
- Glue together your stereo mixes and subgroups with the world’s finest circuit emulation of the iconic API 2500 compressor
- Select between "Old” and "New” compression, with feedback or feed-forward sounds
- Sharpen your workflow with plug‑in‑only Mix and Headroom controls
- Punch up low frequencies with API's patented Thrust technology
- Contour your mix's stereo interaction with percent-based L/R Link controls
- Mix with artist presets from Jeff Balding (Faith Hill), Vance Powell (Jack White), Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and more
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Try it freeTAKE A LISTEN
API 2500 5-Minute Tip
Learn how to use the API 2500 on drums, bass, guitars, and your entire mix.
The Only End-to-End API 2500 Emulation
Poring over proprietary "for-your-eyes-only" schematics made available to Universal Audio by API, our team of DSP experts analyzed two classic API 2500s — rackmount and in-console — ensuring one of UA's tightest behavioral circuit models to date. Working together with API's engineers, we scrutinized every facet of the plug-in against its analog counterpart, delivering the definitive representation of this iconic compressor. Early beta testing with UA artists confirmed that the plug-in ranks among the most accurate analog emulations in UA history.
Built for the 2-Bus
API designed the 2500 compressor with program material firmly in mind. Its Release control includes fixed or variable options, while the Attack, Threshold, and Ratio controls offer musical tweaking throughout their range, making the API 2500 a toneful dynamics overlord for your stereo bus.
Shaping Tone and Dynamics
The API 2500 allows selection between three custom-voiced compression Knees — Soft, Medium, and Hard. You can shape the tone further with two compression types; "Old" for characterful peak-detection harkening back to API's earliest, highly-coveted 525, or "New", which features a modern feed-forward design.
Thrust Control for Unmatched Punch
Taken from their Paragon series of consoles, the API 2500’s Thrust feature puts a filter before the RMS detector, evening high and low frequency energy — so neither triggers the compressor more than the other. This gives you a tight hallmark API punch beyond any other compressor.
Enhance Energy and Motion
Most compressors only allow you to turn left/right linking on or off. The API 2500 Bus Compressor Link parameters allow for precision control of your mix's L/R dynamic interaction. Set exactly how much dependence — or independence — you want your L/R spatial dynamics field to have, and hone your dynamic contours even further with the Shape control.
“The API 2500 Bus Compressor is the only piece of analog gear that’s stayed consistent with me through the years. Now with the UAD plug-in there is finally a worthy model.”
– Vance Powell (Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs)“The API 2500 is my all-time favorite drum bus compressor. The Punch and sound is unmatched by any other in it's class. This is a must have in any studio.”
– Grieves“The API 2500 plug‑in has all the same character and punch as the original hardware.”
– Adam Hawkins (Twenty One Pilots, Switchfoot, Keith Urban)Watch The Reviews
Avis clients
J. Smalls
8 décembre 2023
Great all around compressor
I use the API 2500 in multiple ways, in the mix or for post mastering. I love it more for mastering its glues everything together and with the tone section really adds...
En lire plusS. Shaboutin
1 décembre 2023
Awesome! API 2500 Bus Compressor!
I tried the API 2500 Bus Compressor and I really liked it. It takes very nice colors. From now on this will be my permanent mixing tool!
En lire plusK. L
24 novembre 2023
On my mixbuss and on my drum buss
Super versatile compressor. Using it on my busses and it delivers at 100%
En lire plusJ. Keen
26 octobre 2023
VERY useful bus compressor
The API 2500 Bus Compressor is highly flexible. It can be as transparent as you want it to be, or as obvious as you want it to be. Fantastic tool for track groups....
En lire plus -
Key Features
Painstakingly modeled by Universal Audio's plugin design team, licensed and authenticated by Automated Processes, Inc.,
Beloved Paul Wolff-era API design, exclusively measured from the all-discrete, in-console version of the 2500
Provides the entire circuit path and control set of the API hardware including custom API op amps and transformers
Signature API 2500 features include patented Thrust® sidechain filtering, "New" and "Old" Compressor Types, and Variable Sidechain Link
Plug-in-only features include Dry/Wet parallel processing and Headroom for user-customizable operating level
Includes artist presets from Vance Powell, Jeff Balding, Ryan Hewitt and Adam Hawkins
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Avis clients
API 2500 Bus Compressor
J. Smalls
Great all around compressor
I use the API 2500 in multiple ways, in the mix or for post mastering. I love it more for mastering its glues everything together and with the tone section really adds depth. I say for the sale price you shouldn’t need a review to help with the purchase JUST BUY IT. Otherwise this is an amazing plugin and I highly recommend it!
S. Shaboutin
Awesome! API 2500 Bus Compressor!
I tried the API 2500 Bus Compressor and I really liked it. It takes very nice colors. From now on this will be my permanent mixing tool!
N. Merrick
API 2500 Bus Compressor
Great plugin!
K. L
On my mixbuss and on my drum buss
Super versatile compressor. Using it on my busses and it delivers at 100%
d. castaneda
Buss Comp
One of the best buss comps for drums
J. Keen
VERY useful bus compressor
The API 2500 Bus Compressor is highly flexible. It can be as transparent as you want it to be, or as obvious as you want it to be. Fantastic tool for track groups.
M. Woolnough
Impressive
Became my "Go To" instantly. Great on any buss. Enjoying features not found on other Buss compressors. Nice companion to the API Vision Channel Strips . Solid 5 out of 5 !
A. Elias
La mejor emulación
Creo que esta es la mejor emulación del API 2500. La puedes empujar un poco más que otras emulaciones y sigue sonando natural.
R. Marquez Cruz
Lovely
Almost like the real thing, quite adaptable for almost every purpose. Totally would get it again
w. woodson
Oh Yeah!!!!
Haven't dove 100% in yet but from what I'm hearing so far is incredible!!!!!
Don't have to wait for Christmas as long as you guys are around!a. azilazian
Love it!
this plugin is absolutely great!
S. Hunt
Fantastic Glue
Really works well glueing the final mix and taming the peaks.
S. Hunt
Fantastic Glue
Really works well glueing the final mix and taming the peaks.
T. MADDEN
Shapes my sounds
This compressor allows me to shape my sound effortlessly
N. Jeremic
Fantastic bus compressor
Great bus compressor for any type of percussive material, as well as stereo mix bus.
J. Harris
I Quite like the Sound on the Bus
Without too much effort its one of those things that just works on the mix bus. glue it all together 2500 style.
A. Smith
Perfect on drums
Add this to your drum bus, you can also add it on your master chain and get great results.
R. Vignini
API 2500 Bus Compressor
Best bus compressor for drums excellent also for acoustic guitars
C. Gonzalez Bueno
The Best In The Game!!!
The dimension this thing has and how it handles low-end is top notch. My go to for drums bus and mastering.
M. Obuchowicz
Too much hype
Did get that as everyone here appraised it so much, but was kind of disappointed. Essentially, it's a good compressor, with its own kind of punchy, forward sound (actually, pretti delicate effect) and long, steep learning curve. To my surprise, I was able to get similar tones (a also a lot of others!) with my existing, modern plugins - and actually it's easier to dial them in. Seems this will be another bought, but not used products.